India better Jakarta Asiad medals tally, win 71st historic medal at Hangzhou

Hangzhou: India bettered their previous medals tally record of 70 at Jakarta Asiad after their mixed compound archery team won the 71st medal at the Asian Games 2023 here on Wednesday.

The compound archery team, comprising Ojas Deotale and Jyothi Surekha Vennam, won gold for India. This was India's second archery gold medal in Asian Games history.

India also eclipsed their athletics and shooting records from 2018. Shooters notched up an all-time Indian record of 22 medals at Asiad.

In athletics also India has sealed 23 medals so far with a few medal events still to be played.

India also won three bronze with two more assured in boxing. Three squash medals also are assured.

India had eclipsed the 50-medal mark in each of the previous four editions.

Jyothi and Ojas won 159-158 against the Republic of Korea's So Chaewon and Joo Jaehoon in the mixed team compound archery.

The Indian archers scored a perfect 40 in all but the third end. The Koreans, however, faltered at ends 1 and 4 and claimed the silver medal.

Jyothi and Ojas, meanwhile, will also feature in their individual gold medal matches on Saturday, October 7 from 6.30 am IST.

Meanwhile, Indian athletes Manju Rani and Ram Baboo won the 70th medal for India, equalling the previous medal tally at 2018 Jakarta Asiad, in the Asian Games 2023.

Rani and Baboo clocked a combined time of 5:51:14 to clinch a bronze in the 35km race walk mixed team. China won the gold medal with a time of 5:16:41 while Japan clocked 5:22:11 to secure the silver medal in the 35km race walk mixed team final.

India's athletics medal tally now stands at 23 - four gold, 10 silver and nine bronze. (UNI)